Header construction for spraying equipment



Sept. 26, 1961 H. A. CARTWRIGHT HEADER CONSTRUCTION FOR SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Filed Aug. 11, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Horace ,A. carzwz'ly/zi' BY 6 M ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1961 H. A. CARTWRIGHT HEADER CONSTRUCTION EoR SPRAYING EQUIPMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11, 1958 w R Y O E a M AY MWB m 0 H Sept. 26, 1961 H. A. CARTWRIGHT 3,001,720

HEADER CONSTRUCTION FOR SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Filed Aug. 11, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet s W M ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1961 H. A. CARTWRIGHT 3,001,720

HEADER CONSTRUCTION FOR SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Filed Aug. ll, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheec 4 INVENTOR H 0 race A Carwry/o ATTORNEY p 1961 H. A. CARTWRIGHT 3,091,329

HEADER CONSTRUCTION FOR SPRAYINO EQUIPMENT Filed Aug. 11, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Horacg fl. (jariwry/z/ 4M,

ATTQRNEY United States Patent (Y Tank Corporation, Corona, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 754,229 8 Claims. (Cl. 239-112) This invention relates to a header construction, and more particularly to a header construction for spraying equipment.

This invention specifically relates, in a measure, to improvements in asphalt spreading installations generally referred to in my Patent No. 2,579,792 of December 25, 1951. In my said patent, apparatus for spreading bituminous surfacing material has been disclosed, characterized by a header in which a main distributor conduit is constructed with partition walls internally thereof, dividing said conduit into spaced, longitudinally extending fluid receiving and discharging chambers adjacent road surface spraying means whereby the road surfacing material pumped from a tank initially enters said conduit along split paths passing longitudinally outwardly through the receiving chambers and thereafter reverses its direction of flow for return to the storage tank of the treated material from out of the conduit, and not discharged through the spraying outlets in said conduit.

As desirable as this prior installation may be, interruption of the spraying operation for protracted periods leaves the heavy oleaginous hydrocarbons, such as asphalt, tars and the like, in and along the conduit, in which portions'of the header the oleaginous material flows only when it is duly liquefied by heat transmitted directly or conductively to the main storage chamber or tank. Interruption of the spraying operation, which may therefore require withdrawal of the heat, resulting in chilling or solidifying of the asphalt, tar or other material in the header, serves greatly to delay the use of the equipment on the next occasion when it is required because of the diificulties encountered in draining and aerating the header lines.

Known to me are the eiforts made to overcome the deleterious influence of chilling or cooling of the header, with its heavy asphalt content, when work is interrupted, by introducing suitable thinning liquids or flushing solvents into the header, to withdraw residues of such material. This operation has limited application, and unless performed under special conditions for collecting the flushing oil or thinner, is objectionable in that it cannot be carried out without fouling the roadway and employing a large and costly quantity of the flushing oil, thinner or solvent. Even disregarding the expense, diversionary passages leading to pumping equipment have been found to be ineffective and valueless.

Attempts to use such thinners for flushing, with inadequate drainage of the residue after spraying, have unduly tied up equipment because of the inadequacy of provision for air circulation during draining of residual quantities of roadway tars, asphalt or the like, before resorting to cleansing by flushing oils, to the end that the cleansing of headers of such road spreading equipment has been tedious and costly.

Accordingly, it is an-object of this invention to provide a header construction for the roadway spreading operation for distributing heavy hydrocarbons, which may be thoroughly and economically drained, whereby spread ing apparatus may be restored to use after inactivity without delay and without hazard.

Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a header construction for apparatus for dis- 3,001,720 Patented Sept. 26, 1961 "ice may be aerated, completely to drain the residual oil.

' Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to tributing liquids on roads whereby the header, after i1se,

provide a header for apparatus of the character described wherein the same pumping equipment for distributing the road covering oil, asphalt, tar, is made available to draw in and circulate a flushing oil to cleanse the header, without waste or road contamination or fouling, and without directing diluted residual amounts of the heavy asphalt or the like to contaminate the main supply in the tank.

Still more particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a header construction which includes auxiliary tank means permitting rapid cleansing of the residual amount of asphalt in the header by recirculation, without contamination of the main supply of asphalt, and economically employing such thinning and flushing oil in any locality where the road spreading equipment may be in use.

Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a header having a spray head in association with a main storage tank for distributing road surfacing material, in which the header and spray conduit may be completely, effectively, and economically drained of residual 'asphaltic material and combined with an auxiliary tank furnishing a supply of flushing oil whereby the same pumping instrument and lines for distributing the asphaltic road surfacing material may be employed to flush out and cleanse the header and spraying assembly so that a relatively small quantity of flushing material may accompany the installation for repeated use in maintaining the header and associated equipment in working order after interruption in use of the heated asphaltic material.

In general, it is a further object of my invention to provide a header which may be quickly and economically maintained in effective operation to drain the spray bar and associated feed line therefor and cleanse the same after interruption in use, whereby the spray equipment may be restored to its intended purpose without undue firing or similar operations.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which- FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of the header assembly in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the coupling of the valves of the header shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of my header installation on a truck tank;

FIGURE 4 is an end view thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic sectional View of the distributor;

FIGURE 6 is a magnified fragmentary view on the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a view in the direction of the lines 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the header assembly for spraying, with the pump arranged for forward spraying;

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic perspecitve view of the header assembly, with the pump in reverse for initial clearing of the header; 7

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the header assembly, with the auxiliary tank connected and valves adjusted for flushing the header;

LFIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the header, with the valves and pump adjusted for reverse flushing;

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the header, with the valves adjusted for loading the tank;

FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the header, with the valves adjusted for heated recirculation.

My invention is predicated upon the observation that a single flow or stream header assembly, under the influence of single pumping means, with minimum or complete freedom from diversion or divided flow, is highly effective in the performance efliciently and economically of the procedural details of draining of the heavy road oils or hydrocarbons from the header and road spraying equipment, and where subjected to the flushing influence of a flushing oil, leads to an etficient and economical use of such material, whereby interruption in the use of the spraying equipment, with discontinuance of the heating equipment, may be effected, yet leave the assembly in condition for resuming use thereof without the undue delay and'expense heretofore experienced.

, My invention may further be briefly summarized by outlining the features as providing a road spraying nozzle and header assembly unique in that a single flow line, under the influence of the same single pumping means may be employed for aerating the header and spray nozzle system, to effect eflicient withdrawal of header contained residues of the heavy road compounds and, by avoiding diversionary divided. paths of flow, using the same equipment for circulation of a flushing oil, and whereby economies in "use of such material is effected, among other advantages.

My invention may further be characterized by the features of combining with a road spreading nozzle and header therefor, a single flow circulating component, absent diversionary influence, to withdraw air'from the. header assembly, including the spray nozzle from the top of the system to withdraw residue, including flushing oil diluents from a low level and in a continuous, unbroken flow line, for economically and efficiently returning fluishing oil to an auxiliary tank by the same pumping equipment.

I now. make reference to the drawing wherein my invention may be understood in connection with a vehicularly mounted tank T carried on the chassis C. The tank T has a flue into which a burner may be directed, to heat the chamber 11 and thus heat the tank contents, as will be readily understood.

The tank T is arranged at receive road spreading material, such as asphalt, tar or other roadwayv treating material. The tank T has a sump 12 to which there is connected the pipe 13 leading to a cook 14 to one side of a pump P which may be driven by the shaft S leading to a power take-oft unit for forward and reverse pumping movement, as will appear hereafter.

The pump has a port leading to an advance cock 15,

to which the filling spout 16 is connected. The pump.

P has a T-shaped line 17, one end 18 of which is-connectd with the pipe section 19 leading to the threeway cock 2%, whereby one branch 21 may beconnected to the tank filling section 22 at the top of the tank T.

Between the sections 18 and 19, a cook 23 is interposed, selectiveiy coupling the lines 18 and 19 with the line 24 feeding the nozzle or conduit spray bar assem bly 25.

The nozzle assembly has a main conduit section 26, with extension 27 and 28 which may carry out some of the functions of the spraying nozzle shown in my patent aforementioned. The spray nozzle assembly 25 has an end portion 29provided with a divisional wall 30 to connect the section 29 with the conduit 24 and redirect the flow of a liquid through the main conduit section 31 to the opposite conduit section 32 where a divisional wall 33 is provided, to couple the remote side of the section 32 with the low level by-pass line 34 the header system.

The nozzle assembly 25 is characterized by a plurality of spray ports 35, each of which is closed by a swingable disk 36. All of such disks are coupled to a draw bar 37 under manual control, whereby all of the disks 36 may be moved to the open or shut position in unison (see FIGURE 5).

The single effective flow line thus described has its single egress through the conduit 38 coupled to the cock 39. The cock 39, having an actuator arm 39a, leads to the pipe 40 to be connected to the three-way cock 20, previously described. The line 40 is connected by a pipe 41 to an auxiliary tank 42 controlled by the cock 43, whereby the auxiliary tank 42 may be placed in communication with or shut ofi from the line 40.

The section 22 has tapped therein an air line 44 leading to a manhole apron 45 whereby air release and ingress is secured for the pipe line 22 through the manhole 46 into which the main air line 47 is extended, as will be readily understood. The conduit system H thus described leading to and from the conduit spray bar or nozzle assembly 25 is included within the term header assembly.

The cocks 14 and 15 each have actuator arms 48 and 49, respectively, with linkages 50 and 51 leading to the pivotal lever arm 52. The three-way cock 20 and cock 23 each have actuator arms 53 and 54, respectively. A manual control lever 55. has a bell crank arm 56 coupled by the link 57 to the actuator arm 53. The lever also has an extension 58 and a draw rod 59 (see FIGURE 2) coupled to the actuator arm 54.

With the pipe line or header assembly as described, a number of operations may be performed, which will more clearly be understood by reference to FIGURES 8m 13, it being understood that like parts are correspondingly numbered, and where cocks 20, 23, 14, 15, 43, 39 are intended to be shown diagrammatically, the blank circle illustration is intended to be the closed position of the cock and where the arrows are shown, itis intended to illustrate the open position, and direction of flow ofthe material to be pumped or to flow into the cock.

Spraying cycle-Pump forward FIGURE 8 diagrammatically illustrates the header assembly in a position with the pump P pumping forwardly for spraying the bituminous road spraying material in the roadway, the operation having involved opening the nozzle assembly 25 by manual means, to open the spray ports 35, hot bituminous oil being removed from the sump 12 through the line 13, the cock 14, the manual means 52 having moved the arm 49 to shut the cock 15. The cook 23 is in the open position by the I conjoint movement of the manipulative arms 54 and 53 whereby spraying is effected in a single line through the conduit 24 and the nozzle assembly 25 through the bypass 34, returning the excess not spread upon the roadway under the pressure of the pump through the cock 39, the line 40, through the cock 20 and into the overflow line22 to the tank T.

At the completion of the spraying operation, or its interruption, when it is intended to withdraw heat in the flue, as at the close of a days operation, a condition of the apparatus in accordance with FIGURE 9 is then established. The manual means for the nozzle assembly 25 is adjusted to swing the spray ports 35 to the closed position under the influence of the draw bar 37.

Pump in reverse-Air withdrawn In FIGURE 9, an initial condition of the installation is assumed on discontinuing operation. To effect this condition, the pump P is merely reversed under a control at the power take-01f unit, By my arrangement, the .pump forces the bituminous oil in the header inreverse into the sump 12 since the cockv 15 is closed. Air enters the line 2.2.from a single part at the top of the system to 'clear the entire systemwi'thout "diversion along its entire line, since the intake to the pump, at reverse flow, is from the lowest portion of the system at the by-pass 34.

A novel phase of the header in accordance with my invention, by the intercoupling of the cocks 1'4 and 15 to open the cock 14 when the cock 15 is closed, and the entrance of the air only from the top of the system, and withdrawal of the bituminous oil from the low point, assures air entering the system and the clearing of the header within a few seconds.

The next step is one to adjust the apparatus preparatory to flushing.

Pump forward-Flushing operation For flushing the header (see FIGURE manual control means 52 are manipulated to open the cock and simultaneously close the cock 14 by the expedients previously described. Under this condition of the cocks 14 and 15, the auxiliary tank 42 is provided with flushing oil, such as thin kerosene or the like. The capacity of the tank 42 is limited so as preferably to include no more flushing oil than would be required to fill the header and spray bar, and thereby entirely deplete the supply of flushing oil in the tank 42 when a supply of flushing 011 has reached a point just above the cook 20, the pump P being connected to the power take-off means to drive the pump forward. The flushing oil or thinning solvent then passes through the cock 15 to the pump P, through the cock 23, into the spray nozzle 25, through the cock 39 and the line 40 up to a point above the cock 20, without entering the main tank T.

The charge of thinning oil in the header 25 may be left in the header for a period of time during which experience has taught that solvent action will take place, or the flushing operation may be activated to take advantage of the solvent action of a moving stream of flushing oil. For this purpose the next operation is effected.

Pump in reverse-Flushing operation For reverse flushing, the power take-01f unit adjustment is changed so that the pump P is in reverse. In this position, a single fiow line is established by the pump back to the tank 42. The flushing oil and such bituminous material as it may have dissolved in drawn from the by-pass line 34 at the lowest portion thereof, through the line 24, the cock 23, through the pump, through the cock 43, into the tank 42. The operation described in connection with FIGURES 10 and 11 may alternately be practiced merely by first operating the pump forwardly, to draw in the flushing p11, and then reversing it to fiush the fiushmg oil back mto the tank 42. Repeated cycles of :forward flushing and reverse flushing may 'be performed, to assure cleaning of the header. The operations are performed without fouling the roadway and, finally, terminating the operation by the pumping in reverse of the pump P to leave the tank 42 the flushing oil and such bituminous material which it has dissolved from the header.

This leaves the header in condition for performance of the next operation.

Pump forward Loading (FIGURE 12 To load the main tank T, control lever 55 is manipulated to close cock 23 and open cook to line 19 only, and thereby close the line 40 to cock 2%. With this operation, cock 39 is closed and cock 43 is closed. Thereupon, filling spout 16 is opened to a source of supply coupled with a load of heated asphalt and the pump P is thrown to pump forward by the power take-0E unit. The charge for the main tank T is drawn in through the cock 15, through the pump P, the lines 17, 18, 19, through the turn cook 20, into the intake line 22, to fill the main tank T as desired. With this operation accomplished, the installation is then adjustable to the next cycle, to assure a liquefaction of the bituminous oil under the influence of heat generated under the flue 11.

For this purpose, reference is made to FIGURE 13.

Heated recirculation- For purposes of assuring a highly liquefied condition of the road spreading bituminous material, heated bituminous oil may be recirculated in a portion of the header. For this purpose, after closing of the filling spout 16 by the closure 16a, the manual means 52 are manipulated to close the cook 15 and open the cock 14, the manipulating means 55 being left in a position to maintain the cock 23 closed and the cook 20 in the transverse position. The pump is then operated forwardly. Heated bituminous material is withdrawn from the sump 12, forced into T 17, the line 18, into the line 19 and thence through the cock 20 into the line 22 andthen into the tank. In this condition, the sump pump may be used for agitating the heavy bituminous road spreading material and maintain a proper condition of fluidity to await the spraying operation first described, by establishing a position of the valves as described in connection with FIGURE 8.

As an additional advantage of my header and as an optional installation, I may include to one side of the T 17 a coupling hose valve 17a, in which event I may provide an independently controllable fly valve'17b to the opposed side of the T 17, whereby, when the pump P is operating forwardly, it may pump ofi contents from the tank, or by attaching a hose spray to the hose coupling valve 17a, hand spraying with the pump in operation may be effected.

It will thus be observed that by the header assembly as described, high economies in operation may be eflected, (a) assuring complete air withdrawal from the header system; (b) assuring against any diversionary paths of flow of the air; (0) drawing in a flushing oil efiiciently and economically; (d) obtaining reverse flushing with the same mechanism and same flushing oil, Without fouling the locality; (e) using the same installation efficiently for loading and heat circulation, as well as obtaining many additional advantages which will appear to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In spray apparatus for spreading bituminous road surfacing material to a roadway in a fluidic state from a main tank to provide a first supply means, the combination comprising a main conduit spray bar assembly arranged to be in a low point spraying position and a header assembly connected to provide a line between said main tank and spray bar assembly, and having conduit sections terminating with said spray bar, said header assembly having a conduit section having an inlet to an auxiliary tank to provide another supply means of fluidic material to said spray bar assembly and common circulating means for the header and spray bar assembly connecting said supply means having interposed in the lines leading to and from the same interconnecting valve means for said conduit sections to and from said circulation means and supply means to provide single, undiverted flow and return passage lines to and from said supply means and to said spray bar assembly.

2. In spray apparatus for spreading bituminous road surfacing material to a roadway in a fluidic state, from a main tank to provide a first supply means, the combination comprising a main conduit spray bar arranged to be positioned at a low point spraying position, and a header assembly having conduit means connected therewith to provide a flow line to and from the spray bar and tank, said header assembly conduit means terminating with said spray bar, with the opposite open end having an air inlet leading to adjacent the top of the tank and including pumping means interposed in said conduit means to provide circulating means for the header, a second tank, a plurality of cock members interposed in the 7 conduit means along the header having interconnecting means to each other and second tank to provide a single, undiverted flow passage from said air inlet to said spray bar and an outlet to said tanks.

3. In spray apparatus for spreading bituminous surfacing material to a roadway, in a fluidic state from a main tank to provide a first supply means, circulating means therefor, the combination with a main, longitudinally extended spray bar conduit having centrally spaced partitioning means internally thereof at its end to divide said conduit into a pair of longitudinally extending fluid receiving chambers and a unitary discharge chamber along a effective flow passage with a single effective continuous passage from the inlet and outlet port means to and from the spray bar conduit, a header assembly, said header assembly having conduit means thereof providing one end as an inlet means to the main tank and the opposite end as outlet means to said inlet means ofsaid spray bar conduit, and a plurality of valving means interposed along said conduit means for controlling the flow of fluid in said header, said valving means having interconnecting conduit means to said circulating means and second fluid supply tank means, and the valving means being connected with each other to provide a single, continuous path flow line to and from said spray conduit and tank means.

4. In a spray apparatus in accordance with claim 3' wherein said fluid circulating means are reversible and said header assembly includes a conduit having an air inlet adjacent the top of said tank, whereby spraying means 'may be put into effect in one direction of flow of the fluidic surfacing material by the said circulating means and air clearing of the header assembly in a single undiverted flow line may be eiiected in the reverse direction of flow of the fluidic material by the action of said circulating means.

5. In a spray apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fluid circulating means are reversible and said header assembly includes a conduit havnig an air inlet adjacent the top of said tank, whereby spraying means may be put into effect in one direction of flow of the fluidic surfacing material by the said circulating means and air clearing of the header in a single undiverted flow line may be efiected in the reverse direction of flow of the fluidic surfacing material by the action of said circulating means, and conduit means connected at its opposite end in said header and tank, respectively, for returning fluid from said header to said tank in the reverse circulation of flow of said fluid surfacing material by said circulating means. I

6. A spray apparatus for spreading bituminous surfacing material in a fluidic state from a main tank, the com bination'with a main, longitudinally extended spray bar conduit having inlet and outlet means connected thereto having internal partitioned wall means to divide said 1 conduit into a pair of longitudinally extending fluid re ceiving chambers and a single discharge chamber along a single elfective flow passage, with conduit sections coupled thereto to provide single effective continuous passage from said inlet and Outlet means to and from said spray bar conduit, a header assembly connected therewith, said header assembly including conduit sections having inlet means connected to the tank and having an outlet end connected to the inlet end of said spray bar conduit, said inlet means being coupled to fluid circulating means, an auxiliary flush tank having a conduit section connected with said conduit to said inlet means and interconnected valving means interposed in the lines between said flush tank and circulating means in the inlet to said main tank having interengaged linkage for operating said valves whereby said valving means may be closed and opened in unison to cut off the feed to said circulating means from said tank when said valve to said flush tank is open, whereby to provide a single, continuous path flow line to and from said auxiliary tank and spray conduit.

7. A spray apparatus in accordance with .claim 6 wherein said circulating means comprises pump means having drive means which is reversible and the valving means has coupling means to close the inlet to said tank, whereby when the inlet to said auxiliary tank will be opened, the flushing oil in said header is returned to said auxiliary tank in the reverse flow of said circulating means, i

8. A spray apparatus for spreading bituminous surfacing material in a fiuidic state from a main tank to a roadway, the combination with a low level extended spray bar conduit, of a header having conduits leading to and from the tank and having a single eifective inlet and outlet means to said spray'bar conduit, said header having a conduit section including inletmeans to said tank, and a return conduit having'an outlet to said tank, pump means having forward and reverse circulating means in the lines of said header, interconnected valving means in the lines leading to the inlet and outlet side of said pump means, interconnected linkage for operating the valving means to and from said spray bar conduit, one of which valve means being in the line having a conduit returning to said main tank and comprising an auxiliary tank arranged to retain flushing oil, and a conduit section having an inlet from said auxiliary tank to the line of said first interconnected valve means, the header, in the forward circulation of said pump means, having the line connected by said valving means to said flushing tank, whereby flushing along a single, undiverted path of flow is elfected from said header through said spray bar conduit, and in the reverse circulation of said pump means, with the interconnected valving means reversed, the header may be emptied to return the flushing oil to said auxiliary tank from the line connected to said header.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hodges July 23, 1957 

